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First, Do No Harm
Vienna in the 17th century teeters on the boundary West and East halves of the 'civilized world," its people on all sides beset by unfriendly neighbors. Less blinded by the old hatreds nursed by his fellow citizens, minor nobleman Dietrich is more concerned with his physician's passion to heal and an endless pursuit of knowledge.
But when his discovery of a recently deceased man discovers the ravages of a new disease and foul play, the cycle of uncomplicated living is broken. The body, wracked with dark decay and desolation in a way that no physician has ever seen, spreads with a virulence that confounds every mind in the city. Now chasing both cure and killer, Dietrich races to halt the relentless march of death baptizing all in an unrelenting sacrament of death.
But when his discovery of a recently deceased man discovers the ravages of a new disease and foul play, the cycle of uncomplicated living is broken. The body, wracked with dark decay and desolation in a way that no physician has ever seen, spreads with a virulence that confounds every mind in the city. Now chasing both cure and killer, Dietrich races to halt the relentless march of death baptizing all in an unrelenting sacrament of death.
362 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2020
First, Do No Harm is set in 17th Century Vienna. The City and its inhabitants are rooted in old superstitions, bigotries and a sense of moral decay prevails. Dietrich, a physician and nobleman by birth, lives a simplistic life as a night watchman in order that he may protect, learn from and heal Vienna’s populace. However, Dietrich’s routine existence is questioned and tested to the very limits when an unknown disease begins to ravage the City and a group of sinister ‘Plague Doctors’ arrive claiming knowledge of a cure.
In one of the earlier chapters, there is a phrase; ‘darkly beautiful’. This perfectly describes this novel. From the Gothic, atmospheric beginning to the violent, emotional end, the writing is wonderfully nuanced, building layers of intrigue and permeating the narrative with a creeping, foreboding air. Mr Avard’s writing has a slightly archaic turn of phrase which excellently complements the story.
Dietrich is a good, solid main character and I enjoyed that all the supporting characters had flaws and hints of skeletons in the closet. For a large part of the novel, you are really not too sure what or who the enemy might be. I thought it was a good tactic to introduce new characters even quite late in the book (Elenore, for example). It moved the narrative on in unexpected ways and maintained reader interest.
The most interesting character arc is Belial. The direction he takes could have backfired but it worked. Mr Avard really excels in his writing with him and also in the relationship between Belial and Dietrich. There are some incredibly thought-provoking and profound exchanges between them. The other character that is central to the book is the City itself, Vienna. It looms large over the narrative like a living, breathing organism and its history referenced which I found very interesting. The passages describing the horrors that the plague visits on the unfortunate and the work of the ominous Plague Doctors are viscerally and horribly realised. The subject matter contains parallels of our life in 2020 living with Covid-19 and that relevance across the centuries also gave the plot a fresh, applicable aspect.
It could be levelled that the book is a little dense in parts and the ending a bit abrupt. It worked for me but, at the same time, I could have read more. It did make me wonder if Dietrich, Belial et al, could continue in another story. I think it’s certainly a possibility given both the title and the quality of this book. I found First, Do No Harm, very reminiscent of the Shardlake series by C. J. Sansom despite the latter being set in Tudor London.
A beautifully constructed, intelligently written, dark and atmospheric historical thriller. I do hope this novel achieves the recognition it deserves. Highly recommended.
In one of the earlier chapters, there is a phrase; ‘darkly beautiful’. This perfectly describes this novel. From the Gothic, atmospheric beginning to the violent, emotional end, the writing is wonderfully nuanced, building layers of intrigue and permeating the narrative with a creeping, foreboding air. Mr Avard’s writing has a slightly archaic turn of phrase which excellently complements the story.
Dietrich is a good, solid main character and I enjoyed that all the supporting characters had flaws and hints of skeletons in the closet. For a large part of the novel, you are really not too sure what or who the enemy might be. I thought it was a good tactic to introduce new characters even quite late in the book (Elenore, for example). It moved the narrative on in unexpected ways and maintained reader interest.
The most interesting character arc is Belial. The direction he takes could have backfired but it worked. Mr Avard really excels in his writing with him and also in the relationship between Belial and Dietrich. There are some incredibly thought-provoking and profound exchanges between them. The other character that is central to the book is the City itself, Vienna. It looms large over the narrative like a living, breathing organism and its history referenced which I found very interesting. The passages describing the horrors that the plague visits on the unfortunate and the work of the ominous Plague Doctors are viscerally and horribly realised. The subject matter contains parallels of our life in 2020 living with Covid-19 and that relevance across the centuries also gave the plot a fresh, applicable aspect.
It could be levelled that the book is a little dense in parts and the ending a bit abrupt. It worked for me but, at the same time, I could have read more. It did make me wonder if Dietrich, Belial et al, could continue in another story. I think it’s certainly a possibility given both the title and the quality of this book. I found First, Do No Harm, very reminiscent of the Shardlake series by C. J. Sansom despite the latter being set in Tudor London.
A beautifully constructed, intelligently written, dark and atmospheric historical thriller. I do hope this novel achieves the recognition it deserves. Highly recommended.
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May 14, 2021First, Do Not Harm is a perfect example of how mankind can save our humanity when they put aside their differences about the religion, race, gender, linguistic, social status, and get together to defend and protect their live and the world against a common threat or enemy.
Vienna is decimated by a deadly disease, but no one knows that disease is the plague. Dietrich, the watchman and medical student who have studied the human body for many years cannot find an explanation of this disease in any book of medicine, even not after consulting the Bishop of the dominant catholic church. Some corpses carry the marks as if they were murdered. Plague might be a curse from God, but certainly not the only threat killing people in Vienna. Dietrich’s sister, Sophie, a rich woman and a notable of the city, recommends him to Abraham, an apothecary, and the only person in town to possess the knowledge of a mage and capable of explaining that the deadly disease was the plague and warns Dietrich that it is a highly contagious disease. Both men realize that their lives and those of many people was in danger. Only a collective effort and action can save Vienna from the plague and the group of self-proclaimed angels of God who are also killing people to clean Vienna from the impure because it has been a sin and divided city.
Abraham is a Jew who lives in hiding with his wife since the expulsion of many Jews from Vienna. When Dietrich introduce Abraham to the Bishop, both are reluctant to work together. Later in their fight against the common threat to save their live and their city, they meet Belial, the only Muslim still in town even though Muslims also were expulsed from Vienna under the reign of the Hapsburg. The essence of these different characters’ actions and goal in defending the city and their lives is this excerpt from the book itself where KS Avard write:
“…we are more than just Christian. We are Jew and Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox. We are rich and poor, noble and humble. We have come together, blind to the divisions that had previously separated us, every soul bent to the achievement of a single, final goal.”
“I say faith because we have not come together in the face of any profession of holy commandment, much as that may appeal to us now. We have come together to defend the basic goodness that we have seen in every action and sacrifice over the last weeks. My heart is as heavy as yours, weary under the weight of such trial, but we are here! We have leaned on each other and come out to win through the torment!”.
This book is a highly beautifully written and articulated. It is a great read.
Vienna is decimated by a deadly disease, but no one knows that disease is the plague. Dietrich, the watchman and medical student who have studied the human body for many years cannot find an explanation of this disease in any book of medicine, even not after consulting the Bishop of the dominant catholic church. Some corpses carry the marks as if they were murdered. Plague might be a curse from God, but certainly not the only threat killing people in Vienna. Dietrich’s sister, Sophie, a rich woman and a notable of the city, recommends him to Abraham, an apothecary, and the only person in town to possess the knowledge of a mage and capable of explaining that the deadly disease was the plague and warns Dietrich that it is a highly contagious disease. Both men realize that their lives and those of many people was in danger. Only a collective effort and action can save Vienna from the plague and the group of self-proclaimed angels of God who are also killing people to clean Vienna from the impure because it has been a sin and divided city.
Abraham is a Jew who lives in hiding with his wife since the expulsion of many Jews from Vienna. When Dietrich introduce Abraham to the Bishop, both are reluctant to work together. Later in their fight against the common threat to save their live and their city, they meet Belial, the only Muslim still in town even though Muslims also were expulsed from Vienna under the reign of the Hapsburg. The essence of these different characters’ actions and goal in defending the city and their lives is this excerpt from the book itself where KS Avard write:
“…we are more than just Christian. We are Jew and Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox. We are rich and poor, noble and humble. We have come together, blind to the divisions that had previously separated us, every soul bent to the achievement of a single, final goal.”
“I say faith because we have not come together in the face of any profession of holy commandment, much as that may appeal to us now. We have come together to defend the basic goodness that we have seen in every action and sacrifice over the last weeks. My heart is as heavy as yours, weary under the weight of such trial, but we are here! We have leaned on each other and come out to win through the torment!”.
This book is a highly beautifully written and articulated. It is a great read.
September 18, 2020
Read an early copy
Where First, Do No Harm excels is in the balance of whether or not the plague is supernatural or just another mystery illness ravaging the city. After all, most scientific knowledge at the time was akin to magic as there wasn't as formalized a discipline yet. Though there could have been more leaning in on the aesthetic, it was clear that Avard examined some of the attitudes at the time. There are enough nods to specific historical events that really establish the time period and the balance is well done. With that said, I will caution that there is some casual racism and anti-semitism, but it is challenged in the text.
Belial interested me so much as a deuteragonist. The tension of "is he an actual angel or just deranged" is a great driver throughout. Seeing him collaborate with Dietrich and his comrades was excellent from a tension perspective. Avard takes the page space to really establish how each main character feels about religion, piety, and morality, from the bishops who have the most formal training to Dietrich himself who is just trying to be a good person.
What didn't really work for me in this book was how little agency Dietrich seemed to have. Sure, he makes a few decisions, like keeping the mysteriously sinister Belial in his basement for interrogation. But overall, he seems to be pulled forward by the plot rather than through his own choices. From the very beginning, things seem to happen to him, rather than him making events take place. Sophia seems to be the dominant force in his life, given that she managed the household since their father's death, and she had the most at stake when the plot became more urgent. I couldn't help but wonder if having multiple POVs would have helped the pace move along.
Overall, if you're looking to read something in historical Europe, but are bored of Britain, definitely pick this book up.
Where First, Do No Harm excels is in the balance of whether or not the plague is supernatural or just another mystery illness ravaging the city. After all, most scientific knowledge at the time was akin to magic as there wasn't as formalized a discipline yet. Though there could have been more leaning in on the aesthetic, it was clear that Avard examined some of the attitudes at the time. There are enough nods to specific historical events that really establish the time period and the balance is well done. With that said, I will caution that there is some casual racism and anti-semitism, but it is challenged in the text.
Belial interested me so much as a deuteragonist. The tension of "is he an actual angel or just deranged" is a great driver throughout. Seeing him collaborate with Dietrich and his comrades was excellent from a tension perspective. Avard takes the page space to really establish how each main character feels about religion, piety, and morality, from the bishops who have the most formal training to Dietrich himself who is just trying to be a good person.
What didn't really work for me in this book was how little agency Dietrich seemed to have. Sure, he makes a few decisions, like keeping the mysteriously sinister Belial in his basement for interrogation. But overall, he seems to be pulled forward by the plot rather than through his own choices. From the very beginning, things seem to happen to him, rather than him making events take place. Sophia seems to be the dominant force in his life, given that she managed the household since their father's death, and she had the most at stake when the plot became more urgent. I couldn't help but wonder if having multiple POVs would have helped the pace move along.
Overall, if you're looking to read something in historical Europe, but are bored of Britain, definitely pick this book up.
May 18, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. The setting is Vienna in the 17th century. The protagonist, Dietrich is a nobleman and a doctor, caring much more of his latter title to heal and save people. He comes across a dead body and soon the story involves a mysterious plague, everything rotting, and strange new visitors to the city.
At the onset Dietrich says he is “in over his head”. This is a great description that follows throughout the book. He is chasing the solution with the help of all his colleagues and sister throughout the book. Speaking of his sister, Sophie, this was the one character I had a problem with in the book. Some of her actions I’m just not sure would be real in those situations. Some of her lines didn’t seem to fit the time as well. But this is minor qualm.
With such a profound dread happening it was interesting to see Dietrich’s character change from the beginning of the book to the end. I don’t want to mention spoilers but I thought it was well done.
A very well written and enjoyable book!
At the onset Dietrich says he is “in over his head”. This is a great description that follows throughout the book. He is chasing the solution with the help of all his colleagues and sister throughout the book. Speaking of his sister, Sophie, this was the one character I had a problem with in the book. Some of her actions I’m just not sure would be real in those situations. Some of her lines didn’t seem to fit the time as well. But this is minor qualm.
With such a profound dread happening it was interesting to see Dietrich’s character change from the beginning of the book to the end. I don’t want to mention spoilers but I thought it was well done.
A very well written and enjoyable book!
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